Junior Danielle Cooney has been involved with photography for the past few years, but her passion began when she was just 10 years old.
“I feel like I’ve always had an eye for photography,” Cooney said. “Ever since I was a kid I would look at angles and lighting and color combinations and think ‘what if this was a picture; that would be cool’. When I started getting older, I realized I could take those pictures and I did. I would ask to take my mom’s phone, and I made my visions come to life.”
Cooney played around with a camera for years before she realized what all there was to the art of photography.
“At first, I thought it was just cool pictures I took and that’s why I liked it,” Cooney said. “Then, as I got older, I realized it was more than a picture. Photos tell stories, make people feel things, keep memories alive, document history, etc. I love that I’m able to be a part of something so valuable and meaningful to others.”
As Cooney has developed her passion for photography, she has experimented with all the different kinds of photography.
“At first I started out photographing flowers, bugs, sunsets, and occasionally structures like buildings or bridges,” Cooney said. “Currently, I’m focusing on more of a nature theme. I absolutely love getting to capture moments outside that people might not see every day.”
Cooney loves photographing anything that requires a unique perspective.
“My favorite thing to photograph is the little things people don’t notice,” Cooney said. “I love to show people what they don’t get to see unless they really stop and observe what’s going on around them. I think it’s so crazy that there’s a million different things coexisting with us every day that we don’t get to see.”
Although she enjoys taking pictures, there are still specific instances that Cooney finds herself not enjoying as much.
“My least favorite would have to be taking portraits of people, only because I’m not very experienced in close-up shots,” Cooney said. “There’s a whole lot to learn about taking pictures of people, and sometimes it can be a little awkward for me since I don’t enjoy speaking up and taking control of things, which is a necessity for completing a photo shoot for people.”
Cooney also has several struggles that she has to push through when it comes to pursuing her passion for taking photographs.
“Some struggles of mine would definitely be that I’m introverted,” Cooney said. “There’s been so many times where I could’ve taken a great picture but I was too nervous to ask for a person’s permission or I felt awkward taking pictures in public. I feel like as I go on I’ll get more comfortable with it.”
There is another hindrance in Cooney’s photography experience that she finds herself struggling with.
“I’ve had Tourette’s Syndrome since I was 4 and it’s been hard sometimes holding still to take a picture,” Cooney said. “I’ll sometimes have tics in my arms, hands, or neck that will make me completely out of focus and I miss good opportunities for a picture but I have to remind myself that I’ll always have another chance some other time and maybe I’ll even get a better shot then the one I had.”
Cooney doesn’t let this discourage her from chasing her passion, however. While photography is more of a hobby currently for Cooney, she has already begun putting together plans for how to incorporate her passion into her future.
“I would love to turn this into a career,” Cooney said. “I’m hoping, after high school, I can become a cinematographer,” Cooney said. “They’re in charge of the camera and lighting crews. They make a director’s thoughts a reality and their visions come to life. My years worth of experience and continued learning would hopefully be really helpful for future movies, and I’m really excited to see what I can do.”
